The New York Times wrote another signalling messaging chat, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses, which included his wife and brother.
Those familiar with content and those who received the message, who discussed on condition of anonymity, confirmed the second chat with The Associated Press to discuss the sensitive issue.
The second chat on the signal — a commercial app that is not permitted to be used to communicate confidentiality or classified defense information — includes 13 people, the person said. They also confirmed that the chat was called “defense team huddles.”
The New York Times reported that the group includes Jennifer, the wife of former Fox News producer Hegzes. and his brother, Phil Hegses, was hired in the pentagon as the Department of Homeland Security’s Liaison Office and Senior Advisor. Both travelled with the Secretary of Defense and attended high-level meetings.
The White House dismissed the report late Sunday as “non-stairs,” suggesting that a disgruntled former Pentagon employee is spreading false claims.
“No matter how many times legacy media attempts to revive the same non-story, we cannot change the fact that the categorized information is not shared,” White House assistant reporter Anna Kelly said in a statement. “The recently fired ‘leaks’ continue to misrepresent the truth to ease their crushed ego and undermine the president’s agenda, but the administration continues to hold their accountable. ”
Additional chat group revelations have led to new criticism of Hegses and President Trump’s broader administration.
“The details come out. We’re continuing to learn how Pete Hegses risked his life. But Trump is still too weak to fire him,” New York Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X.
The first chat set up by national security adviser Mike Waltz included many cabinet members, revealed as Atlantic Prime Minister editor Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the group.
The chat, published by the Atlantic, shows that Hegses listed the timeline of Iran-backed attacks on the Houssis in Yemen last month.
The National Security Council and the Pentagon spokesman did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on additional chat groups.
Hegseth previously claimed that the information or war plans were not shared as categorized in chats with journalists.
The Times reported on Sunday that the second chat had the same fighter startup time as the first chat included. Several former and current officials say the strikes are certainly categorized and they will share details of these operations before their release puts pilots at risk.
The use of Hegseth’s signals and sharing such plans is under investigation by a deputy Department of Defense inspector. It came at the request of leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee, a ranking of Mississippi Republican Speaker Roger Wicker and Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reid.
Reed urged to investigate the second signal chat reported to inspectors late Sunday, saying Heggs “must immediately explain why it was communicated to categorized information that could put the lives of American service members at risk.”
“I have serious concerns about Director Hegses’ ability to maintain the trust and trust of U.S. service members and commanders,” he added.
The new revelation comes amid more confusion at the Pentagon. Four officials from Hegses’ inner circle left last week as the Pentagon conducts extensive investigation into information leaks.
Dan Caldwell, Heggs’ aide. Colin Carroll and Chief of Staff to Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg. and Darrin Selnick, Hegzes’ vice-chief of staff. Escorted from the Pentagon.
The three were initially on leave due to pending investigations, but on Saturday X said “we haven’t been able to accurately inform us that we’ve been investigated whether there’s still an aggressive investigation or even an actual investigation of a ‘leak’ from the start.”
Caldwell was a staff member designated as a Hegses point person in signal chat with a member of the Trump Cabinet.
Former Pentagon spokesman John Urito also announced his resignation last week that has nothing to do with the leak. The Pentagon said Uriot was asked to resign.
COPP is writing for the Associated Press. Washington AP writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.
